Access Hollywood went inside Ricki and Derek’s rehearsals today. They talk about their return to the top of the leaderboard this past week and how that isn’t their focus. Ricki says the competition is less about scores and winning and more about building and getting better each week. Everyone has the “game face” and wants to win since they’ve reached this far in the competition. Ricki’s body is taking a beating, but, in a “good way”. Her rib injury is doing a little better. Derek also shoots down the rumors that he is feuding with Maks. Him and Ricki laugh and say it’s so not true. Derek says he went out with Maks last night.

You can listen to the new interview in two videos at Access Hollywood HERE and HERE (sorry, I couldn’t embed them this time).

Also regarding the Maks/Derek Hate rumors, there is this new little jewel too if you haven’t seen it yet. Be sure to click on the link inside the tweet….

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

In a new interview with InTouch Weekly Magazine, Tony Dovolani talks of Chynna Phillips and their elimination. He also makes a prediction for who will win Dancing With The Stars Season 13 and more. Thanks to @DWTSgossip for the heads up on this video.

Also, be sure to pick up a copy of InTouch Weekly Magazine this week if you are a Ricki Lake fan. Ricki talks of her “soul mate”.

For talk show queen-turned Dancing With the Stars darling Ricki Lake, finding true love didn’t come easy. But after a 10-year marriage to artist Rob Sussman — they had two sons before splitting in 2003 — Ricki, 43, is now happily engaged to jewelry designer Christian Evans. “He’s amazing!” Ricki gushes to In Touch in an exclusive interview. “It took me 42 years to find the right one.”

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

In a new article with Westlake Magazine, Mark Ballas tells them how Dancing With The stars has a way of sucking you in as a fan. “It keeps getting bigger and better each season,” says Mark. He explains how reluctant he was to do the show at first and why. He spills on his life, family, his whole dance career as well as how he got into music. Before reading below, would you like to guess what Mark’s biggest challenge so far in doing Dancing With The Stars? If you guessed dancing with Bristol Palin, you are correct. Informative, touching article with Mark at his rawest. Be sure to read it in full at the link as well as seeing another picture.

Ballas was in London at the time he first heard of the show. Born in Houston, he relocated to London as a child. He didn’t move to Los Angeles until he got the job with Dancing With the Stars at age 21.

He began dancing at a young age. He was inspired by his parents, Corky and Shirley Ballas, champion ballroom dancers. “I loved music and I’ve loved to move and perform ever since I was real little” he says. “Once I showed a little potential my mom got me in classes. She always kept me in class.”

No one dared make fun of him. “If guys tried to say , Oh you dance,” I would say, ” While you’re out in the field with a bunch of dudes, I’m in the studio with a load of chicks! No one bullied me and if they did, I was always that kid that didn’t care if people made fun of me. I love dancing and being in class with kids that share the same passion. We were always in it together and were always supportive. Derek (Hough) is my foster brother and we did everything together since we were 11 years old, so I’ve always surrounded myself with those kinds of people.”

He had been doing musical theater when he was offered the job with DWTS.

“The dance world is very small. When they heard I was finished competing and I had sort of won everything possible in my division, they offered me a space. I was a little reluctant at first, but it was a wonderful opportunity to move to Los Angeles and start a new path and then my foster brother Derek was called five minutes after I was, so that was a sign and I thought we should go, and off we went.”

The reluctance, Ballas says, stemmed simply from the fact he was leaving home. Hough and he arrived in LA with no money, no car, and nowhere to live, but as soon as they found an apartment the following day, they set about to adjust to a new life.

“It was a culture shock” Ballas admits.

He definitely rose to the challenges of his living circumstances and faced new ones, with the partners he was given. His greatest challenge on the show thus far, he says, was working with Bristol Palin. “And finding something different to do every week,” Ballas says. She had never done acting or dancing or anything like that. The difficult thing was to do something to change it up week by week, but to still keep it in her comfort zone”.

Also, if you didn’t see Mark on the Nancy Grace show last Friday night, be sure to watch him below. He gave her some great advise.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

This weekend, Jennifer Grey is appearing on the UK version of the show as a stand-in judge for Len Goodman. She’s hopes to “bring honesty” to the panel. In a new promo interview with the BBC, Jennifer talks of what it was like to do Dirty Dancing and how Patrick Swayze got her the role. She also speaks about doing Dancing With The Stars in the US and a little of what she went through with her partner, Derek Hough. Great article. You can read more in a take from Film News below.

Jennifer says despite her starring role in Dirty Dancing, she is not a natural performer.

“Derek was frustrated because I’m not a dancer. I was only a weekend one. I put on Michael Jackson on my boom box,” she smiled. “I was a lover of dance.”

Jennifer confessed the show was hard work. The Golden Globe-nominated star says rehearsals were gruelling and often left her feeling vulnerable.

“It’s about embracing the opportunity and facing your fears. You have to dig so deep,” she recalled.

“Each week I didn’t feel ready. I could not get through a dress rehearsal without crying or some sort of drama. It’s very intense.”

Jennifer is appearing on the UK version of the show this weekend as a stand-in judge. The 51-year-old hopes to bring honesty to the panel of Strictly Come Dancing.

“I’m a really judgemental person!” she laughed.

“I have so much compassion, and I’m going to be really honest.”

Picture above is of Jennifer and Kenny Ortega at the 2011 Rising Stars Gala on Oct. 29th. You can view more pictures of her at this event at Zimbio.com.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

Last night, the 2011 Creative Arts Emmy Awards took place at the Nokia Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Dancing With The Stars was nominated in 7 catagories which included Outstanding Reality Series, Outstanding Reality Host-Tom Bergeron, Outstanding Choreography-Mark Ballas, Outstanding Hairstyling For A Single-Camera Series, Outstanding Lighting, Outstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special, and Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Series. From the 7 nominations, the show picked up one Emmy for “Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special”.

As some of you know already from Twitter, Mark attended the awards with his Mom Shirley. Here they are gracing the Red Carpet. Shirley wore a killer black dress and Mark looked dashing as well in a black and white tux sporting a “Situation” type hairstyle.

Another Red carpet favorite last night was Season 13 Dancing With The Stars contestant, Chaz Bono and his girlfriend, Jennifer Elia. His documentary “Becoming Chaz” was nominated for 3 Emmy’s. According to his twitter it lost to “Gettysburg”.

Twenty-five other awards will be handed out at the LIVE Primetime Emmy Awards telecast on Fox next Sunday, September 18 (5-8 p.m. PT, 8-11 p.m. ET). Be sure to tune in if interested!!

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

Last night, Kirstie Alley was a guest on David Letterman. They played “Pretty Woman” for an introduction to her segment which I thought was cool and fitting for everything she’s been through with her weight issues and losing it. They start off talking about Dancing With The Stars. Kirstie said it was a lot of hard work, but fun. She also talks (jokes) of how she was mad and not really a good sport when she lost to Hines Ward. Dave also asks her about Maks and if they are dating. Kirstie said, “They have a great relationship that will last forever”. She also mentions how hard it was adjust to a regular life again after Dancing With The Stars. Because of this, she became a “clubber” in New York. She gives Dave an example of how people dance in clubs. LOL A must see if you missed it last night. The two are too funny as always. And doesn’t Kirstie look fantastic?

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

Sunday night Mark Ballas will chat with Chris Harrison of TV Guide’s Hollywood 411 about his Emmy nomination. Here is a sneak peak for what’s to come (I wish I could embed it, but, I can’t. You’ll also need a Facebook account to be able to view the video). Note how Chris asks Mark if he could only choose between an Emmy or a Mirror Ball Trophy, which would he choose? Mark chose “Emmy”. Hmmm, makes one wonder if that’s what Mark was going for all along last Season and will more Emmy’s (instead of Mirror Balls) be his goal in the future? If so, how will potential celebrity partners feel about it? If interested in hearing more of this interview, be sure to tune into Hollywood 411 Sunday night at 7pm ET or stay tuned to Pure Dancing With The Stars. We hope to have video coverage of it afterwards as soon as we can.

ADDING: Hollywood 411 has posted the interview finally. Here it is in full in case you missed it (I’m really liking Mark’s HAIR!);

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

The Dancing With The Stars Make Up Team has put an album together of the show they were nominated an Emmy for at their Facebook page via OK! Magazine. Note: It was Americana week which included the 1000th dance!! Below are a couple of pictures as a reminder and an example of the work they put in. You can view the entire album at the Facebook link. I hope they win! They deserve it!!

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

This morning the 2011 Emmy Nominations were announced. From what I can gather, Dancing With The Stars has garnished seven nominations: One for Outstanding Reality Series, Outstanding Reality Host-Tom Bergeron, Outstanding Choreography-Mark Ballas (huh? Strange how the judges and fans alike had issues with the three dances Mark is nominated for at the time and yet, he gets nominated for an Emmy for them? Plus, he only placed 3rd in the Season 12 finals. What about Maks and Kym’s choreography? And what about Derek? Have they forgot about Season 11?), Outstanding Hairstyling For A Single-Camera Series, Outstanding Lighting, Outstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special, and Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Series. Sizing up these catagories for who will compete for an Emmy in each, they go as follows….

Outstanding Reality Competition:
So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef, The Amazing Race, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.

This is a hard one to report on, Folks! According to Yahoo News, in the early morning hours today Dancing With The Stars Season 12 champion, Hines Ward, was arrested for a DUI in Georgia. Let’s hope for whatever is going on with Hines personally and if he has a drinking problem, he can can get some help and conquer it. He’s still and will always be a Dancing With The Stars Champ to me and I know a lot of you….and I think he is still a gem of a person. Here is a take from the link. For the rest of the article, you can go to the link.

The former Super Bowl MVP and reigning “Dancing With the Stars” champ was booked into the DeKalb County jail just outside Atlanta at 3:41 a.m. and charged with driving under the influence. He was released on $1,300 bond.

The sheriff’s office said it had turned over paperwork to the courts and couldn’t release any further information about the player’s arrest.

A Steelers spokesman did not immediately respond to a message, and it was not immediately clear if Ward had an attorney.

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud.